May 05, 2008

Lindsay Lohan to guest on 'Ugly Betty'

Adding to today's "starlets 'n' sweeps" theme (see also this post on Britney Spears), ABC confirmed that Lindsay Lohan will appear in six episodes of "Ugly Betty." Lohan will first appear in the show's second-season finale May 22.

She will then be back for five additional episodes next season. Lohan, who starred in the Tina Fey comedy “Mean Girls” in her pre-trainwreck life as a pretty good actress, will play a “mean girl” from Betty’s high school who reappears in the hapless magazine assistant’s life, according to ABC’s Monday release. According to another Monday missive from the network, supermodel Naomi Campbell will also appear in the season finale, playing herself.

If I may briefly opine on “Ugly Betty,” here are two words: I’m tired.

No knock on Christopher Gorham, who plays Betty’s boyfriend Henry, or Freddy Rodriguez, who plays another of her love interests, but I’m very tired of the Gio-Henry-Betty love triangle. Both men are appealing actors but I'm over this plot. Henry’s shrewish baby mama, Charlie, also keeps turning up like a bad penny, and I’ve grown bored with her too. I just wish they’d let Betty pick a boyfriend and let the love triangle go.

All in all, my patience for “Ugly Betty’s” post-strike story lines is pretty low at the moment. I understand why the show’s writers might feel they had to carry over themes that had been developing during the first half of the season, but frankly, the Henry-Gio-Betty situation was starting to wear on my patience even before the strike, as were some other elements of the show.

I quite like Judith Light as Daniel Meade’s mother, Claire, but her trial has become kind of tiresome. The low point of the season for me was the episode that revolved around Claire Meade’s bottle of poisoned perfume. It just felt like a soapy conceit that was dragged out to the point that it was no longer fun and ripe for “Ugly Betty’s” brand of ironic playfulness. Same goes for the story line involving Wilhemina’s wacky sister.

“Ugly Betty” excels at sending up soap opera plots while fully engaging in their more melodramatic elements. It’s a hard balance to master and it’s even harder to mix in sufficient quantities of heart and depth. But lately “Ugly Betty’s” balance feels off, and some of the heart, energy and ironic glee appear to be missing.

Though some of the plots feel like they’ve reached or exceeded their expiration dates, I still have hope. It’s quite possible for “Ugly Betty” to regain its footing next year (and I’m heartened to hear that Rebecca Romijn’s Alexis character will only be a occasional presence in Season 3 – I don’t think she was adding much to the show this season). "Ugly Betty" still has winning moments every week, and the cast is always worth watching.

There’s nothing going on here that a good, old-fashioned makeover couldn’t cure -- as long as they don’t make Betty over into someone I don’t recognize.

Lindsay Lohan (“Mean Girls,” “Bobby”) will join the cast of ABC’s hit comedy “Ugly Betty,” appearing in the upcoming Season Finale and in five episodes next season. Viewers will first see Lohan’s character in the Season Finale episode airing THURSDAY, MAY 22 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET). She’ll play a mean girl from high school who suddenly resurfaces in Betty’s life. She’ll continue on the show when the series makes its third Season Premiere next fall.

MODE TAKES ON ELLE AT THE SOFTBALL EVENT OF THE SEASON, AND BETTY IS FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION – HENRY OR GIO? -- ON THE SEASON FINALE OF ABC’S “UGLY BETTY”

“Jump” – Just as Gio makes Betty an incredibly romantic offer, Henry pops back into her life with a proposal of his own. Meanwhile, Betty finds herself centerfield at the charity softball game of the year: Mode vs. ELLE Magazine. Can Wilhelmina strike out ELLE’s star player, supermodel Naomi Campbell? In other developments, an orphaned boy from France turns up at Mode with an amazing claim, and Hilda learns some shocking news about Coach Diaz, on the Season Finale of “Ugly Betty,” THURSDAY, MAY 22 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. ELLE Magazine editors Joe Zee and Robbie Myers appear as themselves.

I totally agree they need to get Marc and Amanda back into some scenes together. I completely love the two of them. And the only part of the Birthday episode I liked was Amanda giving Betty a hard time about turning 40, 50 or whatever. Good stuff.

Good point, Becky! I think half the problem is that Wilhemina and Marc have been away from Mode and that's not a good thing. You're right, I love the Marc-Becky dynamic as well, and that's been somewhat off too.

What I am so tired of is the way shows bring out guest "stars" during the sweeps--actually, it's more like guest personalities. "My Name is Earl" with Paris Hilton?? That's when I stopped watching, and not I'm not so sure about going back. It used to be on my regular schedule, but no more. The shows are almost never as good as they are when they focus on the original cast: Lohan, Spears, etc., etc. don't seem to add much most of the the time. Am I the only one who feels this way? I guess the stunt must work because the networks keep doing it.

Thank you for posting this, Mo. I agree absolutely. Senational cameos and soapy plotlines do not mask the soutward turn the writing has taken this season. The post-strike episodes in particular have been remarkably free of irony, humor and fun.

I agree that the show has gone downhill since the strike but i am still a loyal fan and i hoping that it will improve.. However I do disagree with one thing--- I am competely shocked and angered that Alexis will not be coming back as a full cast member. She was one of my favorite charaters!

Couldn't agree more on your overall assessment of this season. It is lacklustre. It's even more striking coming off of a first season that I thought was almost flawless. I guess it's the proverbial sophomore slump.

But I'm really tired of Henry's predicament and Betty always being a doormat in response. Daniel has NO chemistry with this Renee character -- she can't leave soon enough for me. I think in their attempt to ramp up some drama for soapiness sake, they lost some of the sheer joy that made this so fun to watch.

I'm sure they'll find a way to bring Natasha and Boris back, and I hope things get back on track in Season 3.

Just read today in TVGuide that they're moving the entire production of this show to NYC. Any hope for a Jack Donaghy/Jonathan and Wilhemina Slater/Marc "boss/assistant battle of the stars"? Maybe Betty could see Tina Fey in an elevator? OK. Never mind.

Patrick, THANK YOU for mentioning Betty's appearance. I've been thinking the same thing for months. Being in that environment every day, some of it should rub off in a HEALTHY way (nothing too dramatic over night and no Shallow Betty).

But you'd think she'd start dressing a little better at least--doesn't have to be haute couture, but not the tacky, ugly stuff she wears now. I want to see a little growth in her self-awareness. I got a little excited this week when I saw Hilda starting to cut her hair--I thought that maybe at the very least she was going to get a little more stylish "do." But no. Sigh.

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